HOUSTON METHODIST
Publisher’s Post
Karen Altom publisher@postcardslive.com
A Key Moment in the Life of a Frog
Happy end of summer / start of fall (also known as the time of year when we think summer will never end). I have high hopes of “speaking/writing” cooler weather into existence!
It’s a new world. I remember a story I heard once (okay, maybe 12 times), about a frog in a pot. The story goes that you can cook a frog in a pot, and he will not jump out if you turn the heat up so slowly that he just gets used to it.
This past week, I had a frog moment. I walked up to my car and grabbed the door handle to open it, but it did not unlock. Odd, I thought. And then I remembered. My keys were no longer in my purse, because I had handed them to my husband. I turned around to go back in the house and unlocked the door. How, without keys? Smart locks, of course. I grabbed my keys and merrily went on my way.
The frog moment came later. I was sitting at my desk, where I opened a drawer and spotted a key ring with 2 keys on it. For the life of me, I have zero idea what those keys are for. In fact, we have an entire basket of keys I cannot make myself get rid of “just in case.” I know in my heart as soon as we toss those keys, we will find the lock that goes with at least one of them!
And that is when I realized it. I had become a frog.
At some point over the last few years, I had quit using real, honest-togoodness, old-fashioned keys! The “key” to my car is just a fob. The “keys” to the house are a code of numbers. Same goes for the keys to the homes of parents and children. All gone. With the exception of a post office key and safe deposit box key, I think technology has removed the rest.
As has been mentioned in this space before, possibly more than once, I often have a love/hate relationship with technology. More love than hate usually, but for some unknown reason, this “key” moment set me back on my heels a bit.
What other things had changed without me really thinking about it? A lot. Almost everything, in fact. The way we watch TV. The way we spend money. The way we give money. The way we shop. The way we do almost every single thing in our lives.
One thing has not changed--the way it feels when someone is kind and thoughtful. Hang on to that. In fact, go ahead and call one of our fine advertisers and tell them how much you appreciate them bringing you this magazine. It will make them feel good…and you, too.
Until next time, ribbit.
~Karen
From Our Readers
Wonderful magazine
Thank you for the WONDERFUL magazine. I love everything about it... pictures, stories of local people, local businesses, Sudoku, Dear Gabby, and Giggles, etc. Enjoyed reading “The Beast of Trinity Texas” but I do miss the “challenging” sudoku.
Judy Goodman
Direct results
I was so excited to be selected for the Business Focus story in Postcards Magazine! In just one day, 5 of my 6 appointments were a direct result from the feature story in Postcards and more leads are still coming in! I was thrilled when three of them turned into signed contracts and I have active quotes on the others! Thank you so much Postcards Magazine for allowing me to tell our story!”
Cassie Quinlan Stampede Coatings
Awesome!
Postcards Magazine is awesome! It has helped my business grow in so many ways. Keep up the great work and God bless the Postcards family.
Nate Grigsby
G2 Construction
Every month
I really enjoy your magazine and read it every month.
Wanda Bedenbaugh
Story by Amy Barnett
Submitted Photos
Wheelchairs for Warriors
Area organization keeps veterans and first responders “Rolling Strong.”
It may sound cliché, but Crystal Laramore will tell you –she’s proud to be an American. The Livingston, Texas, resident has always held a deep admiration for her country, the military, and our first responders. She comes from a long line of family members who have served our country, so her love for the military is something engrained into who she is. From 20042005, Laramore also served the U.S. by working for
the Department of State (DOS) in Baghdad, Iraq, and as a liaison officer to the Ambassador to Iraq. That experience laid a foundation for what would be her next chapter.
“When I came back from Baghdad at the end of 2005, I wanted to continue serving our veterans in some capacity. For years, I dipped my toe into the nonprofit arena, trying to find one I wanted to work with or
for, but nothing seemed to fit,” said Laramore. “Then the real ‘aha’ moment came when God took the sledgehammer and hit me over the head with it. For a long time, my co-conspirator, Heidi Hansing, and I were struggling to decide exactly what we wanted this non-profit to look like – and who we were going to serve. During this journey, my friend Paul M. had been working on and designing wheelchairs for almost a decade in the workman’s comp arena. His father was an Army veteran who lived his last years in a subpar wheelchair, so wheelchairs were in his wheelhouse, pun intended. After about the 100th time he tapped me on the shoulder and complained about a veteran’s wheelchair and the subpar design, it hit me… Wheelchairs for Warriors!”
Laramore knew exactly what they needed to do. “We saw our warriors were not getting the proper mobility solutions they so rightfully deserve, so Heidi and I started Wheelchairs for Warriors,” she said.
Wheelchairs for Warriors helps veterans and other first responders (including police officers, EMS, firefighters, and secret service agents) who cannot get assistance from other sources.
“We serve warriors injured in the line of duty by providing customized, high-tech wheelchairs that meet their physical and lifestyle needs. We want to ensure our warriors rejoin their lives at the highest level of independence and freedom possible,” said Laramore. “Many times, we find our warriors living in wheelchairs that are falling apart and being held together by duct tape! Often, they are on a years-long waiting list for a new one. This not only causes them tremendous stress, but it also creates a burden for their caregivers who struggle with the transportation of heavy, bulky chairs. Stress and isolation can lead to deep depression, and depression can lead to suicide. Not on our watch!”
Since its start in 2016, Wheelchairs for Warriors has served around 150 warriors by providing daily living wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, outdoor wheelchairs, and adaptive sports
U.S. Army Combat Veteran Colonel Rob H.; USMC Combat Veteran Eric M.; U.S. Army Combat Veteran Colonel Gregory G.; USMC Veteran, Kentucky State Trooper, Jaime M. – all injured in the line of duty.
wheelchairs – each custom fit and designed specifically for the individual warrior’s physical and lifestyle needs.
“Our warriors have sacrificed so much for us, they deserve to have freedom, independence, and enhanced quality of life!” added Laramore.
Veteran Nicole M. is one of the 150 warriors to receive a custom wheelchair so far. She recently shared her gratitude with Laramore and Wheelchairs for Warriors.
“Words like ‘thank you’ and ‘blessed’ just don’t seem enough for how appreciative I am to y’all. I got to see more of my property in a single day than I have ever gotten to see. I now know how beautiful my own property is, and I can’t wait to start hunting again. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who made this possible for me,” said Nicole.
While Wheelchairs for Warriors is in its eighth year of serving veterans and first responders, they cannot do it without the support of the community – because each custom wheelchair can cost anywhere from $4,500 to $65,000.
Founder/Executive Director Wheelchairs for Warriors Crystal Lee Laramore; U.S. Army Combat Veteran Colonel Gregory G., injured in the line of duty; U.S. Army Combat Veteran, Blackhawk Pilot and Country Singer-Songwriter, Honorary Board Member of Wheelchairs for Warriors, Ryan Weaver
In hopes of gaining more exposure for the organization, the wheels in Laramore’s creative mind started turning. She had the idea to write a song that would salute veterans and first responders and make more people aware of Wheelchairs for Warriors and the work the organization is doing. The more people know – the more likely they are to join the mission.
She reached out to Texas country singer/songwriter Sandee June to see if she’d be interested in writing and recording a song to introduce more people to the organization.
“We were introduced by a mutual friend, and the moment we met, we clicked. She loved the idea and wanted to do it because it was for America’s heroes,” said Laramore.
June and Laramore co-wrote “Rolling Strong,” (the title taken from a popular Wheelchairs for Warriors hashtag) which is now June’s current country single on radio and all streaming platforms. June has written many songs, but this was the first for the Wheelchairs for Warriors founder.
OCTOBER 19
“If you have ever worked with Sandee, you know she is calm – the opposite of me. She is also very talented and naturally gifted. She started her journey a little later than most people, like I did, but writing has always been my passion. I have written poetry and stories for newspapers for most of my life. I even owned a newspaper for 14 years! So, this experience was cathartic and a bit of an exhale. There is so much gratitude in my heart for her making this dream come to life. It’s amazing what one ‘yes’ can accomplish,” she added.
“Rolling Strong” is June’s fastest climbing song to date and was the most streamed Texas country song the week of June 17. “It was such an honor to write and record this song. I am also a proud American who loves to support our veterans and first responders. One of the lines in the song is, ‘Freedom isn’t free. They wrote blank checks for you and me.’ And they did just that,” said June. “Anything I can do to pay my respects to these men and women and to encourage others to give back, I am all in!”
“I pray that when people hear this song, they understand that our flag represents freedom,
and the sacrifices for that freedom. This song is about the fabric of America. It gives people a 3-minute glimmer of hope that we can still Roll Strong as a United States of America,” added Laramore.
June shot a music video for the song in Kemah, Texas, and featured some of Kemah’s police officers, firefighters and EMS. “That was a wonderful moment. I loved being able to highlight some of the men and women who serve our communities every day,” added June.
Laramore and the organization received the Four Chaplains Bronze Medal Humanitarian Award in 2023. The award is given to a person whose leadership has brought an organization’s actions to the national or international spotlight. That’s something Laramore will continue to strive for year after year.
“Freedom isn’t free. Like the song says – they literally wrote a blank check when they signed the bottom line and served our country,” Laramore said. “Now it’s our duty and our honor to serve them.”
Laramore and team will also be serving in
another capacity soon. They were invited to be the official Pit-Crew for Team USA at the Invictus Games in Canada and for the DoD Warrior Games for the next four years.
“Wheelchairs for Warriors might design wheelchairs, but we deliver freedom!” she said.
Visit www.wheelchairsforwarriors.com to learn more about the organization and the men and women who have benefited from it. And remember to stream “Rolling Strong” wherever you get your music and share it with friends and family.
Dear Gabby
Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column. September 2nd is recognized as Labor Day in 2024. I hope your plans don’t involve too much labor. I may have to stay home the rest of the week. I am now on a first name basis with my local patrol officer. He stopped me again this morning and asked if I knew why he pulled me over. I told him that, if he forgot, I wasn’t going to remind him. He stifled a smile and reminded me this was the third time this week he’d stopped me. Then he asked me if I knew what that meant. “It’s Wednesday?” He must be stopping me for driving too slow, because he just turned his back and waved me on down the road. Send me your questions by clicking on Dear Gabby at www.PostcardsLive.com/share.
DEAR GABBY
We all know the day will come when we have to stop driving. Being of sound mind, I envisioned someday voluntarily putting my car keys in the basket on the hall table and walking away. Apparently, birthdays and physicians are in cahoots on the subject, and the timing of the end of my driving days was not as I imagined. Please write a few words to make me smile, and maybe I will feel someone is in cahoots with me
UNWILLING PEDESTRIAN
DEAR UP
Thankfully, there aren’t many things we need nowadays that can’t be delivered to our doorstep. You don’t have to be in the driver’s seat to enjoy the journey of life. You can backseat drive (I highly recommend it) and sightsee all you want. Per your request, here are some words, of anonymous origin, that always make me smile. I hope they have the same effect on you.
I’ve been to a lot of places, but I’ve never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can’t go alone, you have to be in Cahoots with someone. I’ve never been in Cognito, either. I hear no one recognizes you there. I have, however, been in Sane. They don’t have an airport. You have to be driven there. I have made several trips.
GABBY
May we never forget!
I may never know the answers to the questions that plagued me after 9/11. But I know if we lean on God and each other we will be guided to a better, brighter future.”
Michael Hingson, 9/11 survivor
Giggles & Grins
Me: Give me your tenderest of loins. Butcher: That’s not…please don’t order it that way.
Me in 1988: My dad calls everything by the wrong name. Why doesn’t he know what anything is?
Me in 2018: Calling my kid’s Minecraft game “Computer Legos” is way funnier than saying Minecraft, and it makes her mad every time.
Is your refrigerator running? Because I might vote for it.
My brother’s ex had been stealing our Netflix for over two months by disguising her account as “Settings,” and honestly, I ain’t even mad. I’m just really disappointed in myself for actually believing that an account named “Settings” would legitimately be Netflix settings.
The Montgomery Lions Club (MLC) jumped into action after Beryl hit Texas. The Red Cross set up a base for respite at the Montgomery Lone Star Community Center with cots and coordination of meals. People came seeking refuge due to no electricity or food, and some needed oxygen or other medical supplies and medical assistance. Red Cross did not have medical staff, and the facility has no showers. Lions Mark Hofer, Kristina Harris and Dr. Anita Jimenez Belinoski purchased medical supplies, borrowed some equipment, coordinated with Mission on Wheels to bring a shower trailer, and even provided clothes for some people seeking shelter. The volunteer Lions medical team was led by MLC member Dr. Anita and assisted by Associate Member Karen Moore, RN from The Woodlands Lions Club, and Lion Jane Johnson, RN from Conroe Noon Lions Club, to form the medical crew.
MLegal Corner: LEGAL ISSUES: EQUITABLE ADOPTION
By: James M. Bright, Attorney at Law
ost Texas residents are aware that their conduct can lead to the possible imposition of status as a “common-law” or “informal” marriage. Not as well-known, and not receiving the same amount of attention, is the concept of equitable adoption, also sometimes called adoption by estoppel. A finding of equitable adoption by the court places a child in the same position to inherit property as if he/she had been formally adopted or had been a natural child.
This status sometimes occurs when someone has taken a child into his home, either as a stepchild or otherwise, nurtured the child and treated him as if the child were his own. Historically, there have been three elements which needed to be proven before a child could enjoy the position of being adopted by estoppel. Those elements are:
• The existence of an agreement by the adoptive parent(s) that they agreed to adopt. This agreement need not be in writing, but may be implied by the actions of the parties. This agreement may be proven by either direct evidence or circumstantial. Arguably, it is because there is no exact legal test for the existence of an agreement that the courts of appeal are not always consistent in their decisions. For example, a minority of the courts have required that both natural parents consent to the adoption, while a majority of the courts have held that an equitable adoption may occur even if the natural parent does not consent. Willingness &/ or intent of the adoptive parent to enter into an agreement is typically the element of proof that is the most difficult for a person seeking equitable adoption to establish.
• Performance by the child which provides consideration for the agreement by the adoptive parent. Reportedly, this is usually the easiest element to establish in support of equitable adoption. This can be shown by examples of love shown to the parent.
• Reliance - Although no longer considered a necessary element of proof, historically the child had to know of the agreement to adopt and then to act in reliance upon it.
The Texas Court of Appeals case of Spiers v Maples, 970 S.W. 2d 166 helps to clarify the required elements, and it, along with a line of other cases established that the third element of proof (reliance by the child), is no longer needed to establish adoption.
A “bare-bones” and brief synopsis of the facts in the Spiers case is as follows:
• Cross (the child) was given to Moody (the adoptive parent) at a very young age by Cross’s natural mother.
• Moody reared Cross as her own child.
• Cross attended school and was enrolled as if Moody was her natural mother.
• Cross did not find out that Moody was not her mother until she was 21 years of age and ordered her birth certificate in anticipation of getting a marriage license.
• Moody and Cross celebrated all holidays and birthdays as a family.
• Cross had no memories of being anywhere other than with Moody as her mother until she married at age 21.
• Cross treated Moody as if she were her mother, taking care of her when she was ill and providing her with love and affection.
• Moody listed Cross on her tax returns as a dependent child.
• Moody died without a will.
• When Moody died, a claim was asserted by Moody’s sister and brother that they were the only heirs of Ms. Moody’s estate because Cross had never been formally adopted.
• The trial court held, and it was affirmed by the Court of Appeals, that not only had Cross been equitably adopted, but also that she was the sole heir of Moody.
Although the Spiers court held that equitable adoption existed, the holdings between courts have not been consistent. In some of these cases, being with alleged adoptive parents from an early age, referring to them as “mommy” and
“daddy,” attending school under the alleged adoptive parent’s name was not conclusive. In many of these cases, the claim for equitable adoption failed. These cases are typically decided upon the smallest of differences in distinguishable fact.
A later Texas Court of Appeals case Dampier v. Williams, 493 S.W.3d 118, 121-122 swings the pendulum back from Spiers and insists that the age of the child might also be of some consequence. The Dampier case can be distinguished because the attempted equitable adoption was by an adult who did not meet the decedent until the claimant was 19 years old and the decedent was 49 years old.
Based upon case law, it is clear that children reared by parents who are not their natural parents may have intended or unintended consequences on how that parent or alleged parent’s estate passes upon the parent’s death. The importance of this issue is enhanced greatly when the courts are dealing with blended families. The bottom line, as always, is if you wish to include or exclude a child from inheriting the property that you own at the time of your death, you need to hire an attorney to draft the will that clarifies your intent.
Quinn Olivia Loya
Grandchild of Bonnie & Alan Richmond and Miguel & Olivia Loya
Noah Rayden Grandchild of Mimi
Makayla & Connor Simpson Grandchildren of Bill & Selinda Simpson
Texas Talent
Story by Katherine E. Stephens
Submitted Photos
Timothy Lewis
SHSU Alum - Family Man - Teacher
Bestselling Author
Timothy Lewis remembers fondly where he came from, as mentions of areas from The Pineywoods to the Gulf Coast show up time and time again in his writings. This Sam Houston State University alumnus has written more than 20 plays, 100 songs, and numerous novels throughout his career. Lewis’ success reached new heights when his novel Forever Friday became a bestseller on Amazon. Local readers will find familiarity in this novel, as Huntsville, Texas is the main setting! A romantic at heart, Lewis has found a way to keep his writing, as he describes it, “clean, but compelling.” Lewis says, “Write what you know,” and it seems what Mr. Lewis knows is this—”faith, hope, and love” is not just something to hang on the wall or write about... it’s something worth living by.
I understand you lived in Huntsville and attended SHSU. Share with Postcards readers a little bit about that time in your life.
As a student, I transferred from Tyler Junior College in 1974. My senior year, I changed majors from agriculture to music education. I did that because I had begun writing plays and musicals at First Baptist Church. There was a woman there who was my Sunday School teacher and mentor. Her name was Helen Bass. She wrote a play and wanted me to be in it. I said, “I’m not an actor...” Sure enough, I was in it.
Then she said, “I want you to write a musical
with me...” And I said, “I can’t write songs.” She said, “I think you can…you play the piano, don’t you?” So, I went home over Christmas break, and I wrote a song, and I came back and wrote 10 more. We wrote the first three musicals together that were done by the college department of First Baptist. We loaded up an old school bus and traveled around all over Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico and would produce musicals Helen
Speaking of Postcards, actual postcards are a big part of the storyline for your bestselling novel Forever Friday.
Yes. The novel is about a man who goes through a divorce and doesn’t believe in love anymore. He’s an estate salesman, and he finds a collection of antique postcards at an estate sale. He starts going through the poems and postcards to try to discover, “Is Great Aunt Jewel and Great Uncle Bob’s
a
There is a screenplay for Forever Friday that has been completed. Hopefully, it will be a movie one day!
Where do you get your inspiration?
The inspiration for Forever Friday started because I found a collection of postcards at my great aunt and uncle’s estate sale back in the late 90s. I started digging through these albums, and what I found was not photos, but a collection of antique postcards. It was very obvious that my great uncle either mailed a postcard to his wife to get on Friday or just handed it to her. He did that every Friday for 60 years! That was the basis of the book. I put these albums on a shelf in my office. Five years passed. I couldn’t figure out how to turn it into a novel. One day the phone rang, and it was a friend from high school who was going through a divorce. He said, “I don’t know if I believe in love anymore.” I looked up on the bookshelf and thought, “There’s 60 years of a love
story there. What was their secret?”
A lot of my inspiration comes from history. One of my latest novels, Running Downwind, is based upon characters that experienced the UT Tower shooting and the Kennedy assassination. Greatly affected by these events in a personal way, the characters come together to have a love story.
The theme of LOVE shows up in your novels often. I hear you have quite the love story at home, too?
Yes – married 42 years to my wife Dinah. What I realized as a young man is I wanted a marriage that would last. I realized couples who do things to keep their romance active are the ones who had the best chance of working. We try to do something special every 6 months. A scene in Forever Friday where the couple has a first date in Galveston – that’s based off mine and my wife’s first date, because that’s where we went. There are other things in real life from our marriage
WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER OR FALL...
that appeared in the book as well. People always ask me, “What’s the secret to a lasting marriage?” What Gabe [in Forever Friday] found is there is no formula. There are three things: total trust, an unbreakable bond, and completeness. All of these are undergirded by the invisible forces of faith and hope. That’s what he found.
Forever Friday rose to bestseller status and is said to be, in the words of one reader, “Very captivating and hard to put down.” What does this kind of success and feedback mean to you?
It tells me maybe I’m doing something right. All my books are... they can be intense... but they are clean. I have no sex or language in my books. It doesn’t mean it’s not there, but there’s a way to write about it that doesn’t offend people. I teach that when I teach writing. I tell my students it takes more work, it’s harder to write something very compelling without using certain words, but you can do it. My books also all have an element of
Accepting entries for the 15th Annual Photo Contest
Deadline to enter Oct. 30, 2024
Rules & entry form: samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/events/
faith in them. I think people love my books because they’re real, and they tell the truth. They’re compelling, and they’re touching. If I write a scene and I end up in tears, I know the reader probably will, too. If I don’t laugh or cry reading my own writing, the reader won’t either.
When did you discover your love for writing?
I was not a reader as a kid. My mother was a librarian, and she insisted we do the summer reading program. I would barely get books read! Instead of reading about pirates, I wanted to be outside building a pirate ship. What got it all started for me was when I was in the 6th grade. I attended the senior play, “All Because of Agatha.” I remember, at that moment, falling in love with theater and the story.
What was the turning point when you realized you could make a career out of writing?
Early in my career, my wife was a nurse, I
samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com
was a teacher, and our daughter was still a baby. We were living in Amarillo and were in the Toys R Us parking lot. I looked at Dinah and said, “If I can start writing fulltime, I’ll do the washing, the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping--all you have to do is come home and put your feet up.” She looked at me and said, “I’m not stupid!”
That decision really changed our life right there. When I was in graduate school, I carried our daughter all around the city. I knew every clean men’s restroom in the
Timothy and Dinah,wife of 42 years »
Happy September!
Dinah, Timothy and their daughter and son-in-law.
city where I could change a diaper. My wife’s selflessness of saying, “Yes, I’ll work. You can stay home and write”—that allowed me to have the career at all.
Where do you do your best writing?
Here are a few reasons:
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I like to be in my office or out on my back porch. I can edit in a coffee shop; the conversation can be energizing for me while editing. But for writing? I have to be alone. Oh, one more place – I write while I walk! I walk three miles a day. When I was writing Forever Friday, I had all these postcard poems I wrote for the book. I can’t tell you how many times I’d be out walking, and a poem would come to me, and I would literally run home so I could write it down!
Some fun trivia questions now! What’s your favorite food?
Oh gosh, I love seafood. I also love a really good, tender steak... Barbeque. I guess anything that is made in TEXAS is done well!
What is your favorite book?
Gateway to Heaven by Sheldon Vanauken and Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
I know you just got back from vacation! Where do you like to go to get away for a while?
It has to be the beach. A close second is the mountains!
Where can our readers find your novels?
The best place to purchase my novels is Amazon.
The Law of the Harvest
In the realm of our future, the timeless principle of the Law of the Harvest holds profound wisdom. Just as in agriculture, where sowing seeds and nurturing crops leads to a bountiful harvest, deliberate actions and strategic decisions in finances can yield fruitful returns over time.
Understanding
the Law of the Harvest
The Law of the Harvest, often expressed as “you reap what you sow, but always in a different season than planted” emphasizes the concept of cause and effect. In agricultural terms, it highlights the necessity of diligent effort, patience, and careful planning to cultivate a successful harvest.
We could apply this to many different subjects, our families, our relationships, our foreign or domestic policies, or even our finances.
In the context of financial planning and investments, the Law of the Harvest underscores the importance of disciplined saving, investing, and long-term vision. Every financial decision and action we take today has the potential to shape our future prosperity.
Cultivating Financial Wealth
Just as a farmer prepares the soil, selects the right seeds, and tends to the crops with care, effective financial planning requires deliberate steps and attention to detail. This includes setting goals and establishing a diversified investment portfolio tailored to individual risk tolerance and time horizon.
Moreover, like nurturing crops through various stages of growth, building wealth requires consistency and patience. Regular contributions to savings and investment accounts, coupled with strategic asset allocation and periodic rebalancing, lay the foundation for long-term financial success.
Reaping the Rewards
Just as a farmer reaps a bountiful harvest after months of cultivation, disciplined investors can enjoy the fruits of their labor in the form of financial security, and the ability to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
Mitigating Risks and Challenges
While the Law of the Harvest emphasizes the importance of diligent effort, it also acknowledges the inevitability of challenges and uncertainties. In the world of finance, volatility, economic downturns, and unexpected life events can pose threats to financial well-being.
However, just as a farmer employs risk management strategies such as crop insurance and diversification of crops, investors can mitigate risks through diversification of assets, maintaining an emergency fund, and regular communication with their financial advisors.
Conclusion
The Law of the Harvest serves as a timeless reminder that a disciplined eye on your future is an ingredient for financial success. By applying this principle, individuals can cultivate a harvest of wealth that sustains them and future generations.
As we navigate life, and the complexities of financial and economic landscapes, let us heed the wisdom of the Law of the Harvest and sow the seeds of prosperity today, knowing that with diligence and perseverance, we can reap a bountiful harvest of financial abundance tomorrow. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be honored to help you “Enjoy More, Worry Less”.
Submitted by: Brian B Smith, CFP®, Bryan M Masten, CFP® & Riley W. Smith, CFP®
The Garden Post
By Kim Bius
Fall is on the way!
Fall and spring are a gardener’s favorite seasons. Cooler temperatures and more abundant rain will make any gardener smile. Here are a few tips that will help make your transition from summer to fall and fall to winter easier, less costly, and less time consuming.
Fertilizer – Excessive summer watering leaches our soils of needed nutrients. Plants need a slight boost coming out of summer to look their best in the fall. There are many good products on the market. For busier gardeners with limited time, go with a slow-release granular such as Osmocote, or Fertilome’s Gardeners Special for 6090 days of coverage. For gardeners who always plan on a weekly gardening day, try liquid humate or Medina Hasta Grow. Bayer makes an excellent insecticide/fungicide/ fertilizer for roses that can also be used on azaleas and camellias with great success. Plants will benefit from a fall dose of iron, especially gardenias and azaleas. “Limey” green foliage is the first sign of iron deficiency.
Winterizer – Apply to lawns in late October to promote overall hardiness from freezing temperatures and a dose of nitrogen to feed the root system while the top growth is dormant. Fertilome is my favorite, with
a 10-0-14 analysis. Phosphorous is not needed because the plant is not producing fruit or blooms.
Weed Control – A healthy lawn will “choke out” weeds to some extent, but a droughtstricken lawn will be taken over by weeds in just a month. St. Augustine, centipede, zoysia, and Bermuda cannot compete with the low water requirements and dramatic root growth of weeds and are quickly choked out themselves. Using a pre-emergent is low cost Dimension can be used in lawns or in flowerbeds with no residual affect except on desired seeds that will also be killed upon germination. Amaze, Portrait, and Preen are other excellent pre-emergents, but you cannot beat Hi-yield products--priced well, best on the market, and made in Texas.
back into old wood, causing damage if early freezes arrive within 60 days. In our area, the first big dip into freezing temperatures is typically the first week in November and sporadically in early December.
Seeds/Bulbs – Fall is time to plant wildflower seeds (such as bluebonnets) for germination in the spring. Also time to divide perennials that have not been divided in the past 4 years. Consider using extra bulbs as gifts for gardening friends, donations to local gardening clubs, or set up your own beautification project in your neighborhood.
Mulch - All gardens, landscape shrubs, beds, etc., will benefit from a 3” layer of mulch. Variety is a preference. Refrain from using hardwood mulch around acidloving plants such as azaleas, camellias and gardenias. All wood mulches are organic, thus biodegradable. Plastic mulch will never break down, but will mold and have to be removed at some point.
Pruning – Keep it light, if at all. New growth, stimulated by heavy pruning, will be frozen
Fungicide - Treat with a systemic granular fungicide, such as F-stop. Fungal strains can develop resistance over time, so be prepared to switch to a liquid variety if necessary. Fungi is easily spread from one yard to another by mowers, pets, air currents. The easiest way to treat fungal growth is to stay aggressive and apply as a preventative at least twice a year (April and October).
Color – Pansy season is almost here! On the perennial side, chrysanthemums are the most popular flower synonymous with fall. Keep thinking fall; it’s just around the corner. Happy Gardening.
Sam Houston Funeral Home
Celebrating 21 years
Founded 2003
See their ad on page 27
Stage Right
Celebrating 16 years
Founded 2008
See their ads on pages 14 & 19
What’s Cookin’
Bloody Mary Pork Tacos
Ingredients
1 (12-16 oz) pork tenderloin
1 Tbs olive oil
5 tsp prepared horseradish, divided
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce, divided
4 Roma tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1 lemon, halved
1/2 red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 Fresno or serrano chile pepper
1 tsp kosher salt, divided
1 tsp black pepper, divided
1/2 cup Mexican crema
24 corn tortillas
chopped celery and/or green olives and crumbled cotija cheese, for serving
Directions
Step 1: Put pork in a resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish. Add oil, 1 teaspoon horseradish, and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Seal bag; turn to coat. Chill for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
Step 1: Prepare an outdoor grill for direct and indirect grilling, lighting burners on just one side or pushing lit coals to one side. Preheat to medium heat (350-375 degrees. Oil grill grates.
Step 2: Grill tomatoes and lemon (cut sides down), onion, and chile over direct heat, covered, turning onion and pepper halfway through, until lightly charred, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat. Keep grill lit.
Step 3: Remove pork from marinade; discard marinade. Sprinkle pork with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Grill over indirect heat, covered, turning halfway through, 30-35 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 145 degrees. Transfer to a cutting board and tent with foil; let rest 10 minutes.
Step 4: Meanwhile, for salsa, finely chop grilled tomatoes and onion, reserving half of onion for serving. Halve, seed (if desired), and finely chop chile. Stir together tomatoes, onion, chile, 2 teaspoons horseradish, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, the juice from 1 lemon half, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper in a bowl.
Step 5: For horseradish crema, whisk together Mexican crema, remaining 2 teaspoons horseradish, and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl.
Step 6: Thinly slice pork and divide among tortillas (2 tortillas per taco). Top with salsa, horseradish crema, and reserved onion. Serve with celery, olives, and cotija. Serve with remaining lemon, cut into wedges.
Chicken Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
8 cups broccoli florets
3 cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
1 cup chopped walnuts
6 green onions, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup white sugar
¼ cup crumbled cooked bacon
Directions
Step 1: Combine broccoli, chicken, walnuts, and green onions in a large bowl.
Step 2: Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar together in a bowl until well blended.
Step 3: Pour mayonnaise dressing over broccoli mixture; toss to coat.
Step 4: Cover and refrigerate until chilled, if desired. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon to serve.
Cook’s Note
For more tender broccoli, microwave it for about 2 minutes in a small bit of water to steam, then chill.
Use light mayo or salad dressing and Splenda. Omit the chicken, for a delicious broccoli salad.
From the Mouths of Babes
My toddler just spent five minutes explaining that he can’t use his imagination because he traded it with a kid at daycare for some fruit snacks… Ok, bro.
Does anyone else’s kid keep you as a show-hostage?
“Dad, watch this funny part of this show.”
15 seconds later: “Keep watching.”
30 seconds later: “Dad, watch.”
1 minute later: “Are you watching?”
5 minutes later: “It’s almost here. Watch.”
This may be how I die.
4yo: If I fart on the couch, does it just air out?
Story by Katherine E. Stephens
Photos by Tom Miller
Brian Smith, Ally Grounds, Bryan Masten, Paula Armstrong, Riley Smith
Southern charm isn’t lost down the pleasant side street of Financial Plaza in Huntsville, Texas, as Global Financial Partners finds a way to make a financial office feel like home.
Upon entering the lobby, Paula Armstrong will greet you with a warm smile and conversation. She or Client Service Coordinator Ally Grounds will assist any way they can, and then it’s time to head to the conference room for your free consultation. This oversized office is donned with leather recliners, a comfortable sofa, and the spirit of hope. The room feels like somewhere to relax with family, maybe watch a Sunday ballgame with friends –but there is no game on TV. What there is, however, is the money game of your financial future. And Brian Smith, Bryan Masten, and Riley Smith want to be your coaches. They want to help you reach your financial goals, and keeping things comfortable and transparent for their clients is the way they like to do business. Whether it is estate planning, retirement goals, investments, insurance…it is all included in what Global Financial Partners offers for Financial Planning.
Riley Smith, Brian Smith, and Bryan Masten are the perfect fit for multi-generational families.
Hometown Values with a Global Reach
Brian Smith founded Global Financial Partners 38 years ago and has been serving the Piney Woods and surrounding areas ever since. Riley Smith and Bryan Masten have joined Global in the past decade, forming the team they are today. It was a homecoming of sorts for both Bryan and Riley, as they came back to where their roots are and beam with pride when speaking of the area they now call home.
Their reach doesn’t end at the Huntsville city limit signs, though. “Global” didn’t just sound good –it’s the truth. Customers range from Huntsville to The Woodlands and surrounding East Texas towns, to 15 other U.S. states. Hence, the name.
Global Financial Partners is community driven, with a global reach. Client events are a big hit at the office, as there is always a new way to serve clients and the community. Whether it’s sending a birthday card, providing BBQ sandwiches to their clients, or serving first responders or teachers, Global Financial Partners prioritizes service in the community.
No Better Time Than the Present
In a time of economic worries, stress from an election year, and younger generations questioning if saving is really worth it–this is the word from CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) Bryan Masten when a client may feel the pressure of the world we live in: “We have to stick to the plan. To reach your financial goals, we have to remember the plan we put in place. What we do here is help people live the life they want to live. What makes you happy? Okay. Let’s figure out how to get you there.” Staying the course is advised, as Masten says, “The stock market doesn’t care who the president is…it just
832-870-9303
11:30 am until 3:00 pm
Wine Pairing Dinner Every Wednesday
Come gather with friends and enjoy our award winning wines!
Wed: 5pm - 9pm Thu-Fri: 4pm - 10pm Sat: 2pm - 10 pm Sun: 11:30am- 3pm
doesn’t like uncertainty.”
Riley Smith says, “Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world. Time is one of the biggest factors. Start early; you don’t have to have nearly as much to reach the same goal [in the end] than if you start saving later. Time is huge.”
"At Texas Generator Solutions, we are true believers in Community is everything. Without the trust in our community there is no business. We are a family owned and operated business here for the long term. There are a lot of different ways to get your name out there...Postcards Magazines has been amazing for our growth. We have received numerous calls and have taken up to 3-4 customer call-ins in one day. We love our Postcards family and the customers we have obtained from this great publication.
Give us a call @ 936-588-9317 for a free in-home consultation. We are the solution to back up power."
Thank you, Postcards Magazine, for everything you have done for us!
-DUSTIN SORENSEN & THE TEAM AT TEXAS GENERATOR SOLUTIONS
936-293-1188
Call for an advisor today!
Multi-Generational Business
Global Financial Partners feels it’s important to have a multigenerational business. So often, they see multi-generational families and can relate to everyone on a personal level, whether that is business taking place now or forming those relationships with the next generation who they will be helping through those tough times in the future.
Brian Smith recalls a time when a concerned wife shared, “Who is going to take care of me when [my husband] passes?” Therein enters Brian, Bryan, and Riley, all Certified Financial Planners. With staggered age gaps, they feel they are the perfect fit for multigenerational families—there’s a CFP® for everyone.
By definition, the Certified Financial Planner accreditation is among the most prestigious certifications that a financial professional can hold. These professionals are bound by fiduciary duty and must always act in the best interest of their clients when dispensing financial advice. This makes CFPs® a choice provider of financial planning services within the advisory industry.
Riley Smith
Here For You
Global Financial Partners strives to keep everyone in the office on the same page to provide the best service to their clients. “Our clients know all of us. If someone is gone, someone else will be able to fill in. We want our customers to be comfortable with everyone at the office,” says Brian Smith.
Riley agrees in saying, “I want it to be a seamless service, whether I’m here or not.”
Masten assures, “When you call, someone is going to answer the phone. You won’t be sent to a switchboard. Ally.. Paula.. someone is answering the phone.”
Along with striving to provide the best customer service, Global Financial Partners is working for the best interests of their customers when they make technology and education a priority. As Brian Smith says, “We are at the top of our game [with technology and the education
Bryan Masten
provided to CFPs®].
Global Financial Partners plans for growth to continue over the years, but gladly says they will keep Huntsville, Texas as the homebase--continuing to focus on customer service and helping clients reach their financial goals, Global will be here for you when you are ready for that first conversation. They are saving you a seat in one of those recliners.
“We love our clients, and a lot of them have become like family.” – Riley Smith Check Global out online at financialpartner. net. The website provides a glossary of terms, tax resources, and information on free education events that can be attended by all.
Give
for any questions or to schedule your free consultation.
CALENDAR
Cedar Park
Mark Chesnutt hautespotlive.com The Woodlands
Platinum Wine Vault Luxury Tasting visitthewoodlands.com
Sugar
Kevin Hart
smartfinancialcentre.net
“The Play that Goes Wrong” crightontheatre.org
Galveston
Johnny Mathis thegrand.com
Huntsville
Local Churches Blood Drive commitforlife.org/donor/schedules/ drive_schedule/372542
Unleash Your Imagination unleashyourimagination.org The
The
“Once Upon a Symphony” woodlandscenter.org
Conroe
Woodforest Bank Charity Run runsignup.com/Race/TX/Conroe/ WoodforestCharityRun
Huntsville Touch-a-Truck huntsvillemainstreet.com
Asleep at the Wheel oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org
New Braunfels
Doug Stone brauntex.org
Galveston
AIA Sandcastle Competition visitgalveston.com
Huntsville Antique Show huntsvilleantiqueshow.com
Conroe
Bling Bag Bingo Fundraiser conroeserviceleague.org
Mustard Seed Moments
by Ruth Fields
When I was young, my mother was an elementary school teacher. She had to juggle many duties, but somehow found time to cook delicious and nutritious meals for our family every evening. She was a wonderful cook. Cooking seemed fun to me, and I liked to hang out in the kitchen under my mom’s patient tutelage.
One thing my mother taught me is ingredients aren’t always measured the same way. Flour, for example, is sifted before measuring, while brown sugar is packed down in a measuring cup. For this reason, I like to think of Luke 6:38 as the “brown sugar verse.” In this passage, Jesus explained how we should treat others: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
I Timothy 6:18 tells us to “Do good, be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share.”
Matthew 5:16 states, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
I find it interesting that the “brown sugar verse,” gives us more than an
admonition; it also contains a promise. Jesus told us when we give, we get back “a good measure.”
What is a good measure? And why is flour sifted, anyway? Flour tends to settle and pack down, so for recipes to be standardized, it must be sifted. If I sift flour into a cup, I can watch it settle right before my eyes by shaking the cup gently from side to side. Jesus told us a good measure is shaken together so that more will fit in the container. He also said that a good measure is running over. I like to think of pouring cornmeal in a cup and watching it flow over the top and down the sides.
My favorite mental image, though, is brown sugar. A whole lot more brown sugar will fit in a measuring cup when you pack it down!
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”—II Corinthians
